Ulnar Nerve Transposition

[firecop25]

I am post Ulnar Nerve Transpo (sub skin) almost 18 mo.  I currently still have extreme pain in my elbow and numbness in my hand.  The numbness is after say 5-10 minutes of use.  The damage done to the nerve was extensive (burnt noodle the size of a pipe cleaner.  My repeat EMG done a month ago shows normal conduction.  I've been told that my only options are live with it or have a second surgery for submuscular.  He also said possibly to have the head of the ulna modified.  I am a 41 y/o firefighter/paramedic.  This injury occurred 4 years ago when a roof fell on top of my crew.  Will I benefit from either of these procedures?

[speedo_reido]

Hey, I had my surgury done 11 days ago and my symptoms are much better. I had no feeling in my fingers before the surgury and now they just tingle. It does hurt worse at night and in the morning, but I know this is just temporary. I have positive expectations for my full and 100% recovery and thats what I will have. Think only healing thoughts, vocally tell yourself and the universe you are grateful and thankful for your healing. Talk to your body and your elbow to heal and recover fully. It's the only way. You are a magnet for the thoughts you put out. Think pain and thats what you'll have. Tell yourself you will be 100% healed and strong within the next two months. What do you have to lose? Let's keep in touch. I can be reached at ***@****. I am going to be healthy and back practicing martial arts within months. The universe says: You wish is my command. Command it to go your way. Get the DVD called "The Secret" on Amazon for $10 and don't buy into any negitive thoughts. Focus on what you want to have happen and not where you currently are. Be grateful and thankful you have such wise surgens on you side. Do you see where I coming from? It's called the law of attraction. Attract what you want for your life...

[KENYO20]

JUST HAD ULNA NERVE TRANSPOSITION 8 HOURS AGO. YOU GUYS SCARE ME. ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD ANY PAIN IN MY ELBOW, I DID EXPERIENCE NUMBNESS IN MY LITTLE AND RING FINGERS. IT WASN'T TOO BAD, BUT THE LOSS OF POWER IN MY GRIP WAS VERY FRUSTRATING. SURGERY LASTED ONLY 22 MINUTES. AWOKE AS THEY WERE LIFTING ME OFF SURGERY TABLE ONTO GURNEY. AFTER AN HOUR, I WAS MOVING MY FINGERS AROUND, AND THERE WAS NO MORE NUMBNESS. WELL, LIKE I SAID, 8 HOURS AFTER SURGERY AND I HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN AN ASPIRIN. MAYBE I'LL WRITE BACK HERE IN A FEW WEEKS. DR SAVATSKY AT HACKENSACK MEDICAL CENTER, NJ DID THE WORK.

[jstrating]

It has been a year since I had ulnar nerve surgery TWICE on my right elbow and I am still in hell. This all came two years after I broke my arm at the elbow, and a nerve conduction test revealed a severely damaged nerve.  The first surgery was a straightforward submuscular transposition, and afterward I was in so much pain that I couldn't function, nor could I get my elbow to bend beyond 90 degrees.  Well, my doctor could not figure out what was wrong, so six weeks later he went back in.  You think it is painful the first time around, imagine getting a second, more invasive surgery on an already irritated nerve!  I managed to get my most of my range back .... slooooowly .... but to this day still have persistent pain, numbness, weakness and limited function in my wrist and elbow.  I am beginning to develop shoulder issues as a result of overprotecting my arm.  Perhaps the worst part about it is that I am a very healthy 24-year old woman and WAS an athlete.  Before the first surgery I naively believed that it would fix all my problems.  I was totally oblivious to all the risks.  So now I am in medical debt up to my eyeballs, with nothing to show for it.  It is so frustrating.  If you are considering having the surgery, I would recommend discussing every conceivable risk with your physician, ie how badly the nerve is damaged, what placement is best, etc.  I just put blind faith in my surgeon and regret it (fyi, not sure if it makes any difference, but he was an orthopedic surgeon with an upper extremity specialty).  Not that I blame him, but he led me to believe I would get better and I definitely have not.

Sorry for the sob story, but it's rare that I can find some people who can understand what it is like to have your arm taken away from you!

[mdc1959]

Well I think I have most of you beat, concerning Ulnar Nerve Transposition surgery.  I had both the Ulnar and the Radial nerve done within a span of 6 months.  And these operations were just over 7 years ago, in some well known Boston Hospitals.  From my stand point, I would not have any surgery if at all possible.  While I did experience some benefits short term, the long term is I am in pain every day, my only solice is to not work for a few days which translates to not writing and not typing on a computer keyboard for 2-3 days and I can actually see the swelling go down on my right arm. Pain is coupled with numbness in small finger and ring finger, never mind the general arm pain I have.  I am right handed and I refuse to hold a cup of coffee in my right hand, for fear of dropping it.  When I food shop I use my left had for grocery bags, and never carry anything more than my car keys in my right hand.  I attribute my issues to over working my right "mousing" hand for many years at a non ergonomically designed work station.  I'm 48 years old and I have pain like a 90 year old.  So do streaching, exercises and ice packs and/or find a new job rather than have surgery if it is at all possible.

Good luck to you all !!

[bsad11]

did you have a nerve block? i felt the same way for about 2-3 weeks after. my hand was very sensitive and tingling constantly. they should go away after a while.

[susie11]

I Had the surgery on Friday pain isnt bad but still My 2 fingers feel numb and part of my hand like before the surgery . I was told this surgery would make this better what happened